My first campaign after tackling the starter scenarios...almost thru summer of 1942. Captured Moscow summer 41 but not Leningrad. So first objective was Leningrad then I formed my strategy based on that happening. I had reached out for guidance and to my delight there were no "you must capture city X or advance in direction Y" comments so since my armor and infantry strength was due north I based my '42 strategy around encircle and kill. Thus I've spent my summer campaign of '42 in the center doing just that.I have been following the AAR with Stef78 and Stelteck (which is excellent BTW) and though I didn't get Stalingrad and get to the gates of Baku like Stef78 did I did manage to whittle the Soviets down more.

So my question to the people is was this a good strategy? I realize I didn't capture a ton of territory to trade off but am hoping that the trade off with a reduced Soviet army may be an equalizer. I also realize that the Soviets grow soldiers like weeds...I just want to go into '43 on more equal footing. Any observations, comments, criticisms or "atta a boys" appreciated.

The Russian AI is OK, not great. Better than the German AI. You might want to consider a game against a live opponent. It goes more slowly since you have to wait for turns, but the challenge will be greater. Following up on conversations with Telemecus, you could insist on some play balancing measures to even things out against an experienced opponent, like a reduction of their AP (a real handicap for the Russians in 1941).

Another thing I did whilst learning the game was play two-handed, that is, hit end turn as one side, then load up as the other side. Kind of hard to mislead yourself or hide your plans, but you get a better idea of what both sides are capable of.

The Russian AI is OK, not great. Better than the German AI. You might want to consider a game against a live opponent. It goes more slowly since you have to wait for turns, but the challenge will be greater. Following up on conversations with Telemecus, you could insist on some play balancing measures to even things out against an experienced opponent, like a reduction of their AP (a real handicap for the Russians in 1941).

Another thing I did whilst learning the game was play two-handed, that is, hit end turn as one side, then load up as the other side. Kind of hard to mislead yourself or hide your plans, but you get a better idea of what both sides are capable of.

Plan on finding a human opponent after this. Wanted to do a run thru before I get my ass handed to me.

The game is a balancing act between pocketing units and capturing territory, as Axis it is a fine art getting it right between the two in '41 and '42. Both require full on aggression as there is no time to waste. The Soviets have the same balancing act, preserving their army without giving up too much territory. You look to have done a good job and should be in a winning position.

Playing a human opponent is a different game, there are many tactics that the AI does not use and opponents are very variable. Happy Hunting and expect a few setbacks...

The games against the AI although give you a chance to learn mechanics. This game is extremely complicated. The UI is not intuitive and the most complicated of mechanics are well hidden. If you are operating at a level of pushing units and your opponent is optimizing airframes and TO&E you are most likely to be dominated. So for example, see Telemecus 8MP AAR or my 2x3 AAR and look at some of the airwar mechanics. Moving airbases, using staging bases, swapping airframes in units that will withdraw, bombing different things.

The other mechanic that you might explore is supply. How far mechanized can operate from a rail head. have you explored building railheads?

Have you experimented with SU's and which ones use the less ammo but are effective and which ones will bust a urban fortified zone?

Just a couple of things to experiment vs the AI.

_____________________________

"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"

Middle of Sept so I figure I have 4 weeks of good weather before mud. Actually took a week to set the whole 9th Army on the north edge along with 2nd and 3rd Panzer Armies. Was only able to get about 2 inf corps from 11th Army set to open the south up for 1st Panzer Army. By the size of the pocket I'm hoping to bag 1/2 million. I know I wouldn't be able to set this pocket against a human opponent but I will enjoy this.